Monthly Archives: June 2017

In addition to the shale shakers, another way to size the processing capability of the mud recycler is to look at the hydrocyclone. Depending on the size of the mud recycling system, cone size will be 4, 5, 10 or 12 in. Each size cone has a micron “cut point,” and represents the size of the smallest particle the cone can “pull.”

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Four- and 5-in. cones have a 20-micron “cut point,” and 10- and 12-in. cones have a 74-micron “cut point.” Smaller mud systems normally have two section tanks, with a ”dirty” tank under the scalping shaker and a “clean” tank under the mud cleaner (shaker with desilting cones), while larger systems can have three section tanks with scalping, desanding and desilting.

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One hydrocyclone processes liquid at a rate of 50 gpm/ 4-in. cone, 80 gpm/ 5-in. cone, and 500 gpm/ 10-in. or 12-in. cone. Some manufacturers’ volume amount for their respective cone sizes may differ than those cited herein, but these are the most common within the industry for reference purposes.

Maintaining proper pressure is essential for the hydrocyclones to work effectively, with the normal operating pressure range for 4- and 5-in. cones of 30 to 40 psi; 10- and 12-in. cones of 23 to 35 psi. Pressure above 45 to 50 psi cause premature internal cone wear, and lower pressure down around 20 to 22 psi is a “red flag” that you better consider rebuilding the centrifugal(s) to maintain pressure in the optimum range.

With the combination of a desander and desilter mounted over a powerful multi-functional shale shaker, DC’s line of mud cleaners offer both high performance and versatility for the operator.

The main parts of mud cleaners is the hydrocyclone. DC’ polyurethane molded hydrocyclones are available in a number of configurations, ranging from 60 gpm systems to 2,000 gpm systems and capable of achieving a solids cut point of 25 microns.

Each hydrocyclone is made of high durameter, durable polyurethane and can be fitted with independent valve isolation, discharge deflection devices, and pressure monitoring systems. For abrasive solids, DC can also fit our polyurethane hydrocyclones with ceramic liners to maximize equipment life.

This integration of advanced equipment puts forth a unit that can handle large volumes of circulating fluids and is able to retain fluid integrity. Features such as our wedge-lock fastening system, mud bypass gate, and explosion proof enclosures all allow for ease of use. Our pride is truly expressed in our work through our craftsmanship, research, design, and the overall practicality of our equipment.

Until recently, drilling rig operators typically used cast-iron waste-water submersible pumps to move the spent drilling mud in and out of the reserve pits, but these pumps experienced high failure rates. Because of the weight and high solids content of the mud, the pumps often ran dry or against closed discharges. Some failure modes included:

The key components of these pumps—including the impeller, wear plate and agitator—are made of high-chrome iron to withstand abrasion, and the bearings are tough and oversized. These pumps perform better and last far longer than their standard wastewater predecessors in the harsh oilfield environment.

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Submersible slurry pump produced by DC Machinery has the advantages of high efficiency, maintenance free, high temperature resistance, long service life and so on.

Although the principle of centrifugal separation was known to early civilosations ., it was not until 1879 that Dr Laval developed the first continuous centrifugal separator.

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Types of centrifuge:

The essential component of all centrifuge ia a rotating bowl in which the solids or heavier fractions in a liquid are separated by centrifugal settlement. There are many variations in arrangement and design detail, but centrifuges may be classified broadly into four main groups:
1 Simple bowl.
2 Perforated bowl.
3. Bowl with conical disc separator.
4. Bowl with scroll sludge conveyor.

The separation is similar in principle to that achieved in a gravity separation process. The driving force is higher because is resulting from the rotation of the liquid: in the case of sedimentation, where the driving force is resulting from the difference in density between the solids particles and the liquid, the separation is achieved with a force from 1000 to 20000 times that of gravity.

If you want to learn more about centrifuges, please contact me freely. Let’s learn together.